AfterDawn: News

Insignia Blu-ray player hits $199 USD price point

This past weekend Best Buy announced the price cut of their Insignia-branded 1080p Blu-ray player, the NS-BRDVD, down from $229 USD to $199 USD, the price point in which "mass adoption" is supposedly achieved.

Making the announcement more notable is that the Insignia player was only launched in June at $350 USD meaning it has almost been slashed in price by 50 percent in just under 4 months.



The player is Profile 1.1 and is now the cheapest player available along with the discontinued Sony BD-S300 which retails for $199 and is Profile 1.1 as well.

The move could also be based on recent competition from Target which has exclusively released an Olevia branded Profile 1.1 player for $229 USD.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Oct 2008 14:33

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• 27 comments

• NexGen76

  Okay prices are dropping but i wonder what people are going to cry about now? DRM,upscaled etc........?

  20.10.2008 14:44 #1

• varnull

  Nice price.. what's with the 1.1 profile tho?. Old stock flogged off cheap now it's seen as obsolete?
  
  Still needs a $1000 tv and $50 films.. A non starter for most people.

  20.10.2008 14:56 #2

• windsong

  Originally posted by varnull: Nice price.. what's with the 1.1 profile tho?. Old stock flogged off cheap now it's seen as obsolete?
  
  Still needs a $1000 tv and $50 films.. A non starter for most people.Go to newegg. 32 inch hdtvs for less than 6 ben franklins. And 50 dollar blu-rays?
  
  Ever heard of Amazon.com?

  20.10.2008 15:03 #3

• Stu_dent

  Quote:Originally posted by varnull: Nice price.. what's with the 1.1 profile tho?. Old stock flogged off cheap now it's seen as obsolete?
  
  Still needs a $1000 tv and $50 films.. A non starter for most people.Go to newegg. 32 inch hdtvs for less than 6 ben franklins. And 50 dollar blu-rays?
  
  Ever heard of Amazon.com?very true

  20.10.2008 16:14 #4

• Globe08

  To be honest most people are anal and they probably dont like having 200 regular dvds and then starting to amass a Blu-ray collection.Not only does it not flow but it isnt cheap.Its still 200 bucks thats on the crappiest player and a relatively unknown brand to the general public.Blu-ray has a long way to go before it will be accepted by the gerneal public.People that are happy that blu-ray won the format are ignorant and care not for money

  20.10.2008 17:43 #5

• error5

  Those who absolutely have to have BD-Live 2.0 should check out the Samsung BD-P1500, now $223.60 at amazon with 2 free BD movies. Another 2.0 machine is the Sony BDP-S350 at $265.99. Both are available with free shipping.
  
  Profile 1.1 players at $199 or less
  BD-Live 2.0 players at around $250 or more
  
  Quote:Old stock flogged off cheap now it's seen as obsolete? They still play the main movie (which is what matters to most people) and PiP 1.1 extras. With the dearth of compelling 2.0 content out there I would say that 1.1 players should be more than adequate for most people - especially the non-tech-savvy among us who would have difficulty hooking up their player to a broadband internet connection. BD-Live is still in its early infancy and it will take a lot of effort on the part of the studios to really impress in future releases.
  
  Profile 1.1 players are hardly obsolete despite what people think.

  20.10.2008 17:48 #6

• varnull

  Better that they don't live in the UK.. treasure island by any other name.. $$=££ for us when it comes to hardware/media pricing.
  
  1.1 players are obsolete.. don't be fooled. They would be up there with the 2.0 profile machines in pricing otherwise.
  
  With 3-4 years left on this media format it's pretty much a non starter for most people..
  
  Reality check.. I know 1 person with a HD tv.. and they spend all day watching crappy 320x200 cable tv re-runs on challengetv or downloaded avi's @ 700mb's and such rubbish. They don't have any HD content... because it is (their words) "A f-in rip off.. £9-12 more than for a bog standard dvd.. my a$$"
  

  
  
  Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. The flower of carnage-shura no hana

  20.10.2008 17:56 #7

• iluvendo

  I'm still waiting for black friday or the Christmas sale !
  

  "The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
  Ferengi 82nd rule of aqusition
  
  

  20.10.2008 17:59 #8

• error5

  Originally posted by iluvendo: I'm still waiting for black friday or the Christmas sale !You won't be disappointed. Watch out for $149 players and the $499 HDTV's.

  20.10.2008 18:03 #9

• Toshibot

  Actually the Insignia comes with a $100 coupon book good for BD movie purchases at Best Buy. Factor in the $100 coupon book and you'll realize that the player will eventually cost just $99.
  
  
  

  20.10.2008 18:27 #10

• Toshibot

  Originally posted by varnull: Better that they don't live in the UK.. treasure island by any other name.. $$=££ for us when it comes to hardware/media pricing.Blu-ray Disc sales up 396% year to date in UK
  
  Quote:Blu-ray Disc sales in the United Kingdom are up a mind-melting 396% for the year to date. Yep, 1.5 million units have been moved, which -- if accurate -- gives a clear indication of just how quickly consumers on that side of the pond are siding with Blu in this post-format war world.

  20.10.2008 18:37 #11

• iluvendo

  Originally posted by error5: Originally posted by iluvendo: I'm still waiting for black friday or the Christmas sale !You won't be disappointed. Watch out for $149 players and the $499 HDTV's.
  Right on, Cheers !
  

  "The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
  Ferengi 82nd rule of aqusition
  
  

  20.10.2008 18:53 #12

• Vr0cK

  This Blu-ray player has been at $199 for like months now at all the Bestbuy stores around my city. Is this news for like the Bestbuy in America? (Because i live in Canada) :P

  20.10.2008 21:42 #13

• Vr0cK

  also at my local futureshop there is also a Sony and Samsung Blu-ray players for $199.
  
  http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/subclas...=&page=0&sort=3
  
  ..i believe my Walmart here has their own 199$ Blu-ray player and these prices were going on for a long time now. Wow, it was only 2 years ago that a stand alone Blu-ray player was like $999.

  20.10.2008 21:51 #14

• mspurloc

  Big deal.
  When Obama's elected, everything will be free.

  20.10.2008 23:52 #15

• pomelo

  I just might get one now.

  21.10.2008 04:59 #16

• juankerr

  Originally posted by varnull: I know 1 person with a HD tv.. and they spend all day watching crappy 320x200 cable tv re-runs on challengetv or downloaded avi's @ 700mb's and such rubbishTalk about torture. I'd rather be waterboarded than watch 320x200 content on an HDTV.

  21.10.2008 09:20 #17

• Pop_Smith

  Most people that are going to buy the $199 Blu-ray player probably don't know, or don't care, that it is Profile 1.1.
  
  However, the more tech-savvy crowd (i.e. a great majority of the people on aD etc.) are "educated" on the manner and, as a result, complain or just not buy the player and wait for a better deal on a profile 2.0 compatible player.
  
  Originally posted by varnull: Still needs a $1000 tv and $50 films.. A non starter for most people.I saw an ad Sunday from Best Buy and even the newest Blu movies were only $30. Sure, they are more expensive than DVDs but consider two factors:
  
  1. It is still a new technology, and I would dare say it is still in its infancy.
  
  2. Blu-Ray is currently more expensive to manufacture than DVDs, that is going to play into final cost as well.
  
  Peace

  21.10.2008 15:30 #18

• juankerr

  Originally posted by Pop_Smith: I saw an ad Sunday from Best Buy and even the newest Blu movies were only $30. They're even cheaper at amazon.
  
  PLUS - there's a 3 for 2 sale on 100+ titles:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/re..._rd_i=193640011

  21.10.2008 16:43 #19

• lynchGOP

  C'mon people..........this stuff is CA-RAP!!!!!!!!
  
  I've said it before and will say again and I'm sure most will agree that if you pop 200 bones for this garbage (Insignia is Bestbuy's white trash ghetto brand) then you will be simply replacing this within a year.

  21.10.2008 17:59 #20

• mspurloc

  Originally posted by lynchGOP: C'mon people..........this stuff is CA-RAP!!!!!!!!
  
  I've said it before and will say again and I'm sure most will agree that if you pop 200 bones for this garbage (Insignia is Bestbuy's white trash ghetto brand) then you will be simply replacing this within a year.But one of the main reasons many people don't want to buy these BR players and be gouged, is that they know ALL DVD players have a lousy service record. It doesn't matter if you buy a name brand, an enthusiast model, or what. I've bought several, at all different levels, and never had one last longer than 13 months. In fact, some of the cheaper ones lasted LONGER than the expensive ones. My home entertainment installer friends have had the same experience. So I'm certainly not going to drop more than a Franklin renting a doorstop.

  22.10.2008 12:32 #21

• core2kid

  For the tech savvy croud, the best blu-ray player is probably the PS3 lacking B/C ($399 model). I think it is the cheapest that supports profile 2.0 with built in wireless.
  
  face it, how many people have Ethernet connections behind their TVs?

  23.10.2008 22:08 #22

• Ryu77

  Originally posted by mspurloc: But one of the main reasons many people don't want to buy these BR players and be gouged, is that they know ALL DVD players have a lousy service record. It doesn't matter if you buy a name brand, an enthusiast model, or what. I've bought several, at all different levels, and never had one last longer than 13 months. In fact, some of the cheaper ones lasted LONGER than the expensive ones. My home entertainment installer friends have had the same experience. So I'm certainly not going to drop more than a Franklin renting a doorstop.I've had a stand alone LG DVD Player for about 3 years now and it hasn't it missed a beat. It was once used as my main DVD Player but now it is used as a spare in the Bedroom.
  
  I would not consider LG a high end brand by any measure.
  
  If you can't get one to last longer than 13 months, I would look into learning more about caring for your machine and discs. If you look after something, it will generally serve you well.

  23.10.2008 22:09 #23

• lxhotboy

  Quote:In fact, some of the cheaper ones lasted LONGER than the expensive ones.I have noticed this with DVD players from my experience and what i have seen from others. The higher end brand name DVD seem to have more problems than the cheaper ones. I bought an apex for about $30 years back and a couple other cheap dvd players and they still play perfect. My dad spend a lot of money on a Sony and it freezes a lot on movies and has compatibility issues at times with certain DVD's. We might rent a DVD and it wouldnot work in his Sony. Disk would look fine and we take it back to place of rental and exchange for another copy and it would do the same thing but my cheap DVD player would have no problems playing the same DVD. I have heard a lot of people bragging about the reliability of their "cheap" dvd players so give me the cheapest blue-ray player you can find. LMAO....
  
  Has anyone else noticed or experienced this??

  24.10.2008 07:58 #24

• core2kid

  Yea, I have. My dad rents DVDs from an Indian store where they would skip and not play well on the DVD player (Samsung DVD Recorder/VCR 1080i) I then went out and got a Coby for $20. Works perfectly. It looks like those players aren't region coded which makes them play anything u throw at it.

  24.10.2008 14:59 #25

• error5

  Black Friday at Sears: Two BD-Live 2.0 players at $200 or less
  
  Quote:Sears’ sale, kicking off Friday, Nov. 28, and running through Sunday, Nov. 30, will feature Sony’s BD Live-ready BDP-S350 for $179.99 and Samsung’s BD Live-ready BD-P1500 for $199.99, according to the ad.
  
  The price tags represent savings of $120 on the Sony player and $100 on the Samsung player.

  27.10.2008 20:08 #26

• Mr-Movies

  I don't know about the Insignia BD player but my Insignia SA DVD Recorder has worked the best and longest compared to my Sony, Pioneer, & LiteOn the only other SA recorder that has performed as well for me is my Toshiba, I don't have the LG but thought about it at one time. And as to just players like others I've had much better luck with $30 cheapies then very expensive Sony's & Pioneers. I tried to get a firmware update from Pioneer which might have fixed it's issues but that was like pulling teeth trying to deal with them. The issue isn't just regional it is a media issue as well as DRM crap Pioneer & Sony like to enforce.
  
  I personally will not buy a $17 to $20 DVD when I can get a much better high quality BD for around $20 to $30 bucks although $30 is getting a little pricy. HD is the way to go period and if you are dumb enough to watch 320 Divx crap on your HD then shame on you, you might as well just go back to VHS. Some people will just never get it and love to live in their own misery, to which I say knock yourself out. However don't expect sympathy from others when you start wining about how cheap you are, HD is significantly better then SD.
  
  It’s nice to see the prices coming down again I would expect to see the 2.0 standard players coming down further as well since the retail market is worried about Christmas sales already.
  
  "A non starter for most people" now that's funny:)

  27.10.2008 21:31 #27